Britons residing in Spain barred from Madrid flight in submit-Brexit travel row | Politics

British people flying property to Spain were being prevented from boarding a joint BA/Iberia flight to Madrid on Saturday evening after airline staff members stated their pre-Brexit residency papers have been no for a longer time valid.

A total of 9 people weren’t permitted to board at Heathrow, among the them journalist and photographer Max Duncan, who was explained to his green residency paper was no lengthier legitimate, even though both of those the Spanish and British governments have explained both equally the outdated International Countrywide Identification (NIE) document and the new Foreign ID Card (TIE) stay legitimate.

In a tweet from the British embassy in Madrid, Duncan was assured that the green paper was legitimate. “This should not be happening, the Spanish authorities have reconfirmed once again this night that the eco-friendly residency doc will be legitimate for travel to return to Spain as mentioned in our vacation assistance,” officers reported via the embassy’s @UKinSpain account.

Duncan tweeted in reaction: “Thank you @ukinspain for confirming the inexperienced card is legitimate, that Spain has reconfirmed this too and that this need to not be taking place.”

Duncan interviewed a person pair at the airport who said they were “absolutely gutted” following staying instructed they had the improper residency doc and required the TIE card. “We’re heading dwelling. Spain is household,” claimed the unidentified girl, including that her spouse was working out of essential medication.

Another pair said they were being advised at the check out-in desk that the eco-friendly NIE card was no longer valid. When they contacted the British embassy, they claimed workers explained to them they experienced acquired a great deal of phone calls about the problem.

It was not just the Madrid flight that was affected. A individual with the handle @daisyqueen tweeted: “My daughter and her companion impacted. Been in Heathrow for 12 several hours – refused vacation initial BA flight to Barcelona then instructed could journey tonight so waited only to be refused as BA say passengers were being returned from Barcelona.”

The Spanish governing administration declared past calendar year that in the light of Brexit, British people in Spain would be specified a image ID card that would replace the previous residency paper carried by EU citizens.

Tens of thousands of Britons have registered for the new card and the software approach appears to have gone effortlessly. However, there are no available dates to collect the card since the method is so overloaded.

The British embassy explained on its Fb website page on Saturday night it had received several messages from British isles residents in Spain who did not nonetheless have the documentation they required. It claimed it experienced “requested higher flexibility” from Spain in the situations of persons who experienced not however been capable to gather their TIE card, students who are due to resume scientific studies , and for those people who may well be caring for aged or vulnerable relatives members.

There are all-around 300,000 British inhabitants in Spain, whilst the selection may perhaps be much higher as a lot of stay exterior the Spanish technique.